ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF kept a four game win streak alive Wednesday night against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats with a 4-1 victory on an unseasonably cold night at Jay Bergman Field.
Ryan Myer got the win to improve to 2-0, while only putting 1.1 innings in the book with no strikeouts, walks, or earned runs. He gave up a single hit and induced four easy outs in limited action. Trent Thompson left with his second save with a three-up, three down top of the ninth.
The Knights’ essentially went with a win by-committee approach, sending 8 different pitchers to the bump over the course of the game because of a recent rotation shakeup.
“Tonight was going to be a situation where we had to throw a lot of different pitchers” said Head Coach Terry Rooney. “We talked about it yesterday, we talked about it before the game today – no matter what inning you came in, close your inning. Go out there, do your job, and close your inning.”
It was an approach that was highly effective. UCF gave up only three hits as a whole, and let just one run in while stranding ten Wildcat runners. The inability for the Wildcats to drive in their runners was well timed for the Knights, who struggled on defense at times and ended the game with two errors.
James Vasquez smashed a two out, two RBI double off the wall to give the Knights their first lead after falling a run behind in the third inning.
“Miami started us off, we’re really confident now,” said Vasquez
Dylan Moore and Derrick Salberg each followed with an RBI of their own in the fourth inning, and from there both teams put it into cruise control – scoring no runs on either side. The games first strikeout didn’t come until the 5th inning when Sam Tolleson went down looking.
The win streak is important for the confidence of a young team as UCF continues conference play, headed into a home weekend series against Temple. The Owls won two of three from Memphis last weekend, and are a game behind the Knights in the American.
Friday’s game is scheduled for a 6:30 first pitch.
